Kyrgyzstan Deputy Minister of Education Rasul Abazbek on Wednesday (May 22, 2024) assured the safety of Bangladeshi students in the country. He gave the assurance when Bangladesh Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan (resident in Tashkent, Uzbekistan) Dr Md Monirul Islam met with him, according to a press release. Bangladeshi students in Kyrgyzstan capital are safe: Foreign Minister Minister of the Embassy M Nazmul Alam was present at the meeting, according to a press release. Addressing a recent incident in Bishkek, the ambassador emphasised the need for a safe and favorable environment for Bangladeshi students studying in various Kyrgyz universities. He urged the Deputy Minister to allow online classes for the next few months, catering to the students' requests. The Ambassador also highlighted the potential for expanding bilateral cooperation in education between Bangladesh and Kyrgyzstan. “Conveyed our concerns to Kyrgyzstan; no Bangladeshi student severely injured”: Foreign Minister Deputy Minister Abazbek assured the ambassador that both government authorities and university administrations are committed to ensuring the safety of all foreign students, including those from Bangladesh. He also promised to positively consider the request for online classes and expressed interest in signing a Memorandum of Understanding on educational cooperation with Bangladesh. Ambassador Islam further discussed issues related to education, security, accommodation, transportation, and food with university officials. The university authorities assured the Ambassador of their vigilance and active efforts to ensure the well-being and security of Bangladeshi students. Mob attack in Kyrgyzstan: Panicked Bangladeshi students want to return home for a few weeks

Foreign Minister Dr Hasan Mahmud has said that there have been no reports of any serious injuries or casualties among Bangladeshi students regarding the recent attacks on foreign students by locals in Bishkek, the capital of Kyrgyzstan. “Our ambassador stationed in Tashkent, Uzbekistan, the neighbouring country, has been asked to go there. He will reach Bishkek in the afternoon (local time), inquire about Bangladeshi students, and hold discussions with the Kyrgyz foreign and interior ministries and relevant authorities to take appropriate steps,” the foreign minister said. “Conveyed our concerns to Kyrgyzstan; no Bangladeshi student severely injured”: Foreign Minister Hasan was speaking to journalists at his ministry in Dhaka’s Segunbagicha on Monday afternoon. When asked about a student's open letter requesting repatriation, the minister said that no student had made such a request. Mob attack in Kyrgyzstan: Panicked Bangladeshi students want to return home for a few weeks He also informed that he will have a meeting with Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong on Tuesday afternoon during her visit to Dhaka. The meeting, which will be held at the Padma State Guest House, will focus on bilateral issues, including Australian investment in Bangladesh, Bangladeshi migration, seasonal employment, the welfare of expatriates there, and cooperation on energy and environmental conservation, added the foreign minister. Mob Violence in Kyrgyzstan: What We know So far

Bangladeshi, Indian and Pakistani students have reportedly come under attack by violent mobs in Kyrgyzstan's capital, Bishkek. Pakistan's mission in Bishkek said a few hostels of medical universities in Bishkek, where students from India, Bangladesh and Pakistan reside, have been attacked amid the violence, which broke out on Friday night. The Kyrgyz government said four foreign citizens have been arrested following mob violence in Bishkek on the night of May 17-18 that injured at least 28 people, including several foreigners, and appeared to be directed against foreign students and migrants. The violence prompted diplomatic reactions from Pakistan and India, who have warned their students in Bishkek to remain indoors. The violence broke out after a video purportedly showing Kyrgyz students fighting medical students from Egypt on May 13 was widely shared online, according to Radio Free Europe. Mobs gathered in several spots in Bishkek on Friday night after users on social media claimed those who were beaten were Kyrgyz youths. On Saturday, a number of Bangladeshi students reached out to UNB seeking help for their safety. “We are here, five Bangladeshi girls. We are inside our apartment right now. Some people are gathering in front of our apartment. Please help us," Samia Kabir, one of the Bangladeshi students at International School of Medicine, Kyrgyzstan, told UNB on Saturday evening. "We have been asked by the authorities to stay inside. We hear some noises from other apartments nearby…some Pakistanis are likely to be there," Samia added. "Our mission in Uzbekistan is looking into the matter. So far, we have not received any reports of injuries of any Bangladeshis. We are in touch with our Mission. We will share a complete report soon," a senior official at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Dhaka told UNB. Meanwhile, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Kyrgyz Republic in a statement said that at present the situation in Bishkek is "absolutely calm and fully under control". "All necessary measures have been taken to ensure security and maintain peace and stability," it said. It also asked representatives of the media, the blogging community and foreign colleagues to be guided only by official and verified information from the competent authorities of the Kyrgyz Republic. One of the students, named Mustafa, who is living a bit far from the main city, told UNB that the number of Bangladeshi students is now over 1000 in Kyrgyzstan. He said they are relatively safer where he is than those who are living in Bishkek. In some cases, students from Bangladesh, India, and Pakistan live in the same hostels, putting them at risk together. External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar said the situation was "calm" in Bishkek and advised students to stay in regular touch with the Indian Embassy. "The situation is presently calm, but students are advised to stay indoors for the moment," the Indian Consulate tweeted. Videos of the clashes have flooded social media since Friday night. Kyrgyzstan has long been a favoured destination for students from South Asian nations for top-notch medical training. As per the Migration Data Portal, Kyrgyzstan hosted the highest number of international students (61,418) in 2021 among the five Central Asian countries. There are multiple reasons why students flock to Kyrgyzstan, which has the best healthcare, education, and transportation facilities among Central Asian nations. Cheap cost of living, wide availability of Subcontinental cuisine, a good student-teacher ratio, and no entrance fees are some of the facilities that attract MBBS students.